Chen HL, Chen YH, Du L, Song YP, Zhu B. Elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein levels are associated with poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Arab J Gastroenterol 2021;
22:12-22. [PMID:
33551350 DOI:
10.1016/j.ajg.2020.09.004]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS
The relationship between the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgical resection remains unknown. This study aims to assess this relationship.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
PubMed and Web of Science were systematically utilised. Meta-analysis was conducted for the outcomes of the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and the overall survival (OS) by comparing the high AFP group with the low AFP group.
RESULTS
The studies included 61 manuscripts with 35,461 patients. The summary hazard ratio (HR) for RFS was 1.501 (95% CI 1.355-1.662; Z = 7.81, P < 0.00001) when comparing the high AFP group with the low AFP group. Sensitivity analysis only included adjusted HRs, with the summary HR being 1.563 (95% CI 1.381-1.768; Z = 7.10, P < 0.00001). The summary HR for OS was 1.565 (95% CI 1.439-1.701; Z = 10.52, P < 0.00001) when comparing two AFP groups. Sensitivity analysis showed that the summary HR was 1.611 (95% CI 1.456-1.782; Z = 9.24, P < 0.00001).
CONCLUSION
Our meta-analysis indicated that elevated serum AFP levels are associated with poor prognosis of HCC after surgical resection.
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